Machine for making coiled springs.



E. E. SLEEPER. MACHINE FOR MAKING GOILED SPRINGS.

' urmommx TILED MAY 21, 1907. 940,828. Patented Nov. 23, 1909. s EEEETg-EEEET 1.

i/O 1 S-'; 37 35 r 76' 88 E Witnesses g- Inventor .nnflmam Frank/ i g/eeper E B3 F. H. SLEEPER. MACHINE FOB. MAKING GOILED SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907. Q

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

h/z znesses f 'j H, U, T fl Fran]: H Sleeper. WJMW. By

P. H. SLEEPER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING GOILED SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907. v v I r Patented N0v.23, 1909.

6 8HEET8BHEET 3.

Fig 4.

R087? [07 Fran/t H 51 MiTZSSGS F. H. SLEEPER. MACHINE FOR MAKING GOILED SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907. 940,828. Patented Nov. 23, 1909. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

itnesses & i ITIUTL E 01" I i/17 M. B 'GTQJZ pr E a K A a {91 mg F. H. SLEEPER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING GOILED SPRINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

940,828. Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

81 Q if Fi g. 1 5.

%znesses [n venfor fiflwofimam. Frat Zgeper GL ZMW. 5 6

4 z forzwg/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK SLEEPER, 0F COATICOOK, QUEBEC, CANADA, AS SIGNOR TO MORGAN SPRING COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MA SSAGHUSETTS, A CORPORATIIIPN MASSA- cnusnrrs.

momma ron MAKING COILED srnmes.

Application ma lay 2'7, 1997. Serial No. 375,796.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HENRY SLEEPER, a citizen of Canada, residing at ,oaticook, in the county of Stanstead and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Ma'- chine for Making Coiled Springs, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of the machine, showing the coiling and the hook forming mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of the broken line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of the broken line 4-4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional "iew on the plane of the broken line 55, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts removed in order to disclose the hook forming mechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the coiling arbor. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the spring clamping mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detached and partly sectional view of one of the hook formers. Fig. 10 is a detached view of one of the fulcrum blocks over which the end coil of the spring is bent to form a hook or loop, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged end view of the cutting section of the coiling arbor: Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a coiled wire spring having hooks or loops formed on its ends and representing t e completed product of my improved machine,

and Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view online 13 13, Figs. 2 and 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different views.

My improved machine is especially designed for manufacturing that class of coiled wire springs which are provided with a hook or loop at their ends, and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

The machine forming the subject of my present invention comprises instrumentalities for, first, coiling the wire upon an arbor to form the spring; second, gripping the coiled spring; third, severing the wire to enable the coiled spring to be removed from the arbor by an endwise movement; fourth, transferring the coiled spring from the arbor to hook forming mechanism; fifth, forming hooks or loops on the ends of the spring.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 denotes a supporting framework, preferably consisting of a shell or case which incloses certain parts of the operative mechanism, and supports a table 2, upon whichare mounted those parts of the mechanism which are directly concerned in coilin the spring and forming hooks thereon. ournaled in the framework is a shaft 3, carrying at one.

end a belt pulley 4 and at its opposite end a pinion 4 which is in mesh with a gear wheel 5 attached to a cam shaft 6. The gear wheel also carries a crank pin 7 engaging a plate 8, capable of sliding in horizontal ways 9 in a vertically slidmg plate 10 moving in ways formed in a fixed plate 11 attached to the framework of the machine. The vertically sliding plate is provided with a slot 12 open at one end, which allows the plate 10 to slide past the cam shaft 6 as the crank pin 7 is rotated. The short plate 8, as the crank pin 7 rotates around the cam shaft, slides from one end to the other of the horizontal ways 9 and makes a complete revolution around the cam shaft 6. Attached to the vertically sliding plate 10 is a rack bar 13, en aging a pinion 14 on a short shaft 15, whici carries a gear wheel 16, engaging a pinion 17, which is attached to a shaft 18 carrying a. ratchet wheel 19. The ratchet wheel 19 engages a pawl 20 carried by a gear Wheel 21 which turns loosely on the shaft 18 and engages thegear teeth 22 on a wire coiling arbor 23.

By the up and down motion of the rack bar 13 a reciprocating motion is imparted to the shaft 18 which, through the pawl and ratchet mechanism, imparts an intermittent rotary motion'in one direction to the wire coiling arbor 23. The wire coiling arbor 23 is hollow'and incloses a spindle 24 which is held at one end in a fixed position by a. clamp 24 attached to the framework of the machine. The opposite end of the spindle 24 is provided with a collar 25 of thesame diameter as the wire coiling section 26 of the arbor 23. The wire coiling section 26} is held in the hollow arbor 23 with suflicient .isa

friction to overcome the pull of the wire, and is arranged to revolve loosely about the spindle 24.

The collar 25 has a recess on one side to form a radial shoulder. 27 which constitutes one member of the cutting mechanism for severing the coiled wire. The spindle 24 is also provided with a screw threaded tip 27 to receive a cylindrical extension- 28 of the same diameter as the collar 25 which serves as a support for the spring as it is coiled and pushed off the rotating section of the arbor 23. Placed above the arbor 23 rooved bending roll 29 attached to a spind e 30, which is ournaled in an arm 31 capable of swinging on a fixed stud 32. An ad usting screw 33, held in a fixed stud 34, projecting from the framework, bears against the swinging arm 31 to crowd the grooved bending roll 29 toward the arbor. A similar grooved bending roll 35 is placed below the arbor and is carried on a spindle 36, journaled in an arm 37, capable of swinging on a fixed stud 38 projecting from the frame of the machine and adjusted by a screw 39 held in a fixed stud 40, in order to crowd the bending roll 35 toward the arbor. The spindles of the bending rolls carry pinions 41 and 42 in mesh with pinions 43 and 44 respectively. The pinion 43 is concentric with the pivotal stud 32 of the swinging arm '31, and the pinion 44 is concentric with the pivotal stud 38 of the swinging arm 37, and these pinions 43 and 44 are connected by gears 45 and 46 with the gear teeth 22 on the wire coilin arbor 23, causing the grooved bending ro s 29 and 35 to be positively rotated synchronously with the arbor 23.

The wire 47, to be coiled, is taken from a reel, not shown, and conducted between the arbor and the bendin rolls 29 and 35. The wire is crowded close y against the arbor by the lower bending .roll 35, and the upper bending roll 29 is pressed against the wire to regulate the distance between the wire and the arbor, as it is desired to coil the spring more or less tightly on the arbor, thereby allowing for more or less variation in the diameter of the coiled spring. The arbor 23is rotated intermittently as already described and when a spring has been coiled and the rotation of the arbor ceases, a spring gripping mechanism is advanced to seize the coiled spring as it is held on-the stationary extension 28 of the arbor. V

The gripping mechanism consists of a pair of jaws 48 and 49, the latter jaw. 49 being pivoted and drawn toward the jaw 48 by a spring 50. The space 51, between the jaws, is normally slightly smaller than the diameter of the coiled spring except at its receiving end, which is flared at 52 to enable the spring to enter and force the jaws the lever is released by the cam 58 it is re versed and the gripping jaws retracted by a spiral spring- 59.

As soon as the coiled spring has been seized by the gripping jaws 48 and 49, a sliding cutter 60 arranged to engage the shoulder 27 'on the collar 25 is advanced in, transverse ways 61, 61, by means of a pivoted lever 62 which is actuated'by a cam 63, causing the cutter 60 to e05 crate with the radial shoulder 27 on the co ar 25, and to shear the wire interposed between the cutter 60 and the shoulder 27, thereby severing the coiled spring held on the stationary extension 28 from the coils on the rotat' g section 26 of the arbor, and allowing on a stud 69 held in the table 2. The sector 68 carries a radial arm 70 which is arranged on the reverse movement of the to be brought against the rear end 71 of the coiled sprin 65, causin the coiled spring 65 to be rmly gripped between the stop plate '66 and the radlal arm 70. The stop plate 66, which is shown detached in Fig. 10, is provided with a recess 72 to inclose the end of the coiled spring 65, and the radial arm 70 is similarly provlded with a like recess'to receive the opposite end of the coiled spring 65. The tips of the stop plate 66 and of the radial arm 70 form fulplate 53,

crums over which the end coils ofthe wire spring are bent to form hooks or loops by the hook forming mechanisms, which at this brought into action to simultaneously turn up the end coils of wire at each end of the coiled spring 65 to form the .hooks 73,73,

Fig. 12.

period in the operation of the machine are,

spring.

The reciprocating carriage 76 is advanced toward the coiled spring 65 by a lever 78 pivoted at 79 upon a bracket 80, projectin from the frame of the machine and actuated by a cam 81, the reverse movement being accomplished by a spring 82 connecting the lever 78 with the framework. The bars 74 and 7 5 are pivotally held at their rear ends in slots 83 in the carriage 76 within which they are capable of a slight angular movement, and are drawn toward each other against the inner sides of the slots 83 by means of a spring 84. In this position the bar 74 is in proper alinement with the advancing end of the coiled spring as it rests against the stop plate 66 and is inposition, when the bar is moved forward, to forceu'ts beveled end between the'end coil and the 'next adjacent coil of the spring and bend it over the end of the stop plate 66. The bar 75 is provided on its under side with a beveled shoulder 85 which, as the bar 75 moves forward, contacts with the beveled end 86 of a plate 87 carried by the plate 53, thereby causing the bar 75 to swing on its pivotal connection with its carriage, and to move its beveled end laterally to bring it in alinement with the space between the end coil and the adjacent coil of the spring.

The beveled plate 87 is adjustably attached to the plate 53 so its position may be varied in order to adjust the bar 75 to any slight variation in the length of the spring. Hooks or loops having been formed on the ends of the springs by turning the end coils of the spring outward, the bars 74 and 75 are withdrawn by a reverse movement of the carriage 76. The reciprocating carriage 76 is provided on one side with an arm 88 which loosely incloses a locking bolt 89. Between the arm 88 and a shoulder 90 on the locking bolt, is interposed a spiral spring 91-, and the outer end of the bolt 89 is screw threaded and provided with nuts 92. The inner end of the locking bolt slides in a slot 93 in the framework, and is pressed against the edge of the sliding plate 53 by the tension of the spiral spring 91 as the arm 88 is moved forward. The sliding plate 53 is provided on its edge with anotch 94 into which the end of the locking bolt 89 enters when the sliding plate 53 has reached the limit of its reverse movement, thereby locking the plate 53 and gripping jaws firmly in position and preventing any movement of the latter during the formation of hooks or loops on the ends of the coiled spring. The locking bolt 89 is beveled at 95 to allow for any slight variation in the length of the coiled spring 65. The carriage 6 which supports the hook forming mechanism comrises an adjustable plate 96 carrying the ar 74 and capable of lateral adjustment by means of slots 97 and bolts 98, thereby enabling the bar 74 to be laterally adjusted to secure its proper alinement with the end coil of the sprlng 65. During the formation of the hooks or loops 73, 73, on the ends of the s ring and the withdrawal of the hook ormlng mechanism, rotary motion is imwound. The gripping jaws 48 and 49 are then moved forward carrying their inclosed spring against the end of. the extension 28, causin the completed spring to be pushed en wise from between the gripping jaws and allowed to fall through an opening 99 in the plate 53 and an opening 100 in the table 2, and be deflected by a curved chute 101 through an opening 102 in the side of the framework and'delivered into any suit able receptacle.

The stop plate 66 is attached to a plate 103 which is adjustably attached to a fixed portion of the machine by a bolt 104 passing through a slot 105 in the plate 108, in order to enable the stop plate to be adjusted in position to receive the end of the coiled spring. The steel bars 74 and 75 by which the hooks 73, 73, are formed, are pivoted on pins 106 held in cover plates 107 which are adjust-able in order to vary the position of the hook forming bars 74 and 75, and the pivotal pins 106 are relieved of the end thrust of the bars 74 and 75 by a thrust block 108 held against the end of each bar by a set screw 109. After the coilin of the wire 47 has begun, the o eration of coiling successive springs by t e intermittent rotation of the arbor 23 is carried on automatically and each spring as it is coiled, and during the period of rest of the arbor, is automatically severed and removed from the stationary extension to the hook forming mechanism which simultaneously forms the hooks 73, 7 3, on the opposite ends of the coiled spring.

During the operation of the hook forming mechanism a second spring is coiled on the arbor and as the gripping jaws advance to seize the second spring, the first springis pushed from between the jaws and is delivered by gravity through the openlng 99.

The coiling section 26 on which the'wire is coiled is provided with a tapering shank 110 which is frictionally held in the hollow arbor 23, and when springs of difi'erent diametrs are wound, the spindle 24, coiling section 26, and extension 28 can be removed and others of different sizes substituted.

spring statlonary in a predetermined posiparted to the arbor 23 and a second spring is tion, and a hook-forming mechanism arranged to operate upon the spring while held in said position.

2. The combination of a mandrel to receive a coiled spring, means for gripping the spring, said gripping means arranged to move said spring longitudinally from said mandrel, means for arresting the movement of sa1d spring in a predetermmed positlon, and a hook-forming mechanism arranged to operate upon the spring while it is held in a a wire.

a for moving the spring 55 1. In a machine of the class described,-the combination of means for coiling a spring from a continuous piece of wire, means for gripping the exterior of the spring, means for severing the spring from the wire, means for presenting the s ring to a hook-forming mechanism, means or forming a hook from the end coil of wire, and means for the automatic adjustment of the hook-forming mechanism according to the length of the spring.

5. The combination of a mandrel to re ceive a coiled spring, reciprocating gripping means for moving said spring from said mandrel and holding it before a hook-forming mechanism, and a hook-forming mechanism, with said mandrel arranged to force the spring from said gripping means upon its return movement.

6. The combination of a mandrel to receive a coiled spring, means for placing a coiled spring upon said mandrel, severlng means for freeing the spring upon said mandrel, a reciprocating carrier for transferring said coiled spring from said mandrel to hook-forming mechanism, and hook-forming mechanism, with said mandrel arranged to free said spring from said carrier upon its return movement.

7. The combination 'of a mandrel to receive a coiled spring, a reciprocating carrier from said mandrel to a predetermined position, means for holding said spring and carrier in said position, a reciprocating hook-forming mechanism, and means on said carrier for directing the movement of said hook-forming mechanism relatively to said spring.

8. The combination of a mandrel to receive a coiled spring, a reciprocating carrier for moving the spring from said mandrel, a hook-forming mechanism, and means on said hook-forming mechanism for arresting the movement of said carrier in a predetermined position.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for coiling a spring from a continuous piece of wire, and comprising a rotating arbor, means for imparting an mtermittent rotary motion to said arbor, means for gri ping the exterior of the spring while the ar or 1s at rest, and means for severing the spring from the wire.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an arbor, means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said arbor, a pair of yielding gripping jaws for seizing the spring of the arbor, means for severing the spring from the wire, and means for imdpartlng a recigrocating movement to sai jaws, where y the severed spring is removed fromthe' arbor.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating arbor, of a reciprocating rack-bar, means for reciprocating said rack-bar, and a pawl and ratchet connectionbetween said reciprocating rackbar and said arbor, whereby said arbor is rotated by movement of said rack-bar in one direction.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating arbor for coiling a spring from a continuous wire, of means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said arbor, a radial shoulder on said arbor, forming a cutting surface, and a reciprocating cutter cooperating with said shoulder to sever the spring from the piece of wire.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating arbor, and means for rotating said-arbor, of a stationary extension of the same diameter as said arbor, a radial shoulder on said extension forming a cutting surface, and a reciprocating cutter arranged to engage said shoulder, thereby severing the sprmg on said exten sion from the wire on said arbor.

14. In a machine of-the class described, the combination with a rotating arbor for coiling a soring from a continuous piece of wire, of means for actuating said arbor with alternate periods ofmovement and rest,

bending rolls, means for adjusting said bending rolls relatively to said arbor, a pair of gripping jaws, means for moving said jaws over the end of the spr' means for severing the spring from the piece of wire, and means for reversing the movement of said jaws to remove the spring from the arbor.

15. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with an arbor for coiling a spring from a continuous piece of wire,

of means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to said arbor, a collar carried by spring, a reciprocatin cutter cooperating with said cutting sur ace, and means for actuating said cutter during the period of rest of said arbor.

16. In ,a machine of the class described, the combination with an arbor for coiling a spring from a continuous piece of Wire, of'means for imparting an intermittent ro tary motion to said arbor, a spindle held in said arbor and provided with a radial outting surface, a reciprocating cutter cooperating with said cutting surface, and means for actuating said cutter during the periodof -rest of said arbor. i

17. In a machine of the class described,- the combination of a rotating arbor for coiling a spring from a contlnuous piece of wire, means for imparting an-intermittent motion to said arbor, a removable member carried by said arborand provided with a cutting surface, a reciprocating cutter co6pcrating with said cutting surface to sever the spring from the wire, and means for actuating said cutter during the period of rest of said arbor.v

18. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a wire spring coiling.

mechanism, of a stationary extension to receive the spring from said coiling mechanism, and means for severing the spring on said stationary extension from the wire on said arbor.

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wire spring coiling mechanism, comprising a rotary arbor, of a cutting surface carried by said arbor, a

cutter cooperating with said cutting sur-- faceto sever the spring from the wire, and means for periodically actuating said cutter.

20. In a machine of the class. described, the combination with a wire spring coiling mechanism comprising a rotating arbor and a stationary extension to receive the coiled spring therefrom, of a cutting mechanism",

of said members carried on said stationary extension, and means-for 'removmg the severed sprlng from said statlonary extension.

21. In a machine of the class described,

extension carried by said arbor, a

and provided with recesses inclosing the end coils of the spring, and means for outwardly bending the end coilsof the spring against the recessed ends of said plates.

23. In a machine of the class thecombination with means for holding a coiled spring between its ends, of plates abutting the ends of the spring, and a pair of reciprocating bars provided with beveled tips adapted to crowd theend coils of the spring outward, and means for actuatlng said bars.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a coiling mechanism, comprising an arbor, of a pair of yielding gripping aws, means for im artmg a reciprocating movement to said ]3.WS'lI1 a line parallel with the axis of the arbor, means for severing the spring, a stop plate in the path of the advancing end of the spring as it is carried by said jaws, a swinging plate in the plane of the spring, and means for swinging said plate against the rear end of the spring.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotating arbor, of an pair of yielding gripping jaws, means. for imparting a reciprocatingmotion to said jaws, whereby they are carried back and forth over said extension, whereby a spring is removed from said extension, and means for -forming hooks from the end coils of ,the

spring, said extension lying in the path of said hooks, whereby the spring is pushed from said jaws. v for severing the spring from the wire and comprising two cutting members with one Witnesses:

PENnLorn COMBERBAGH, Burns B. FowLEs.

I the combination of a pair of gri ping jaws V described, i 

